Written by: Wejdan Osman

It was a dark Asmara night in the early years of independence,

when a group of unknown masked men dressed in black attacked Amu MSA’s family home in the middle of the night unannounced and abducted him from the midst of his “safe” home, warmth of his family and the tears of his wife and children.

This uncle was one of the most amazing human beings I have ever met in my life. He was a family man with the biggest heart ever. He had amazing kids and the most beautiful (inside out) wife, mother aunt, sister and friend anyone could ask for. Amu MSA’s family were one of the oldest and known families in Asmara, and both their home and business were open to everyone. They were welcoming, generous, humble and always there for anyone in need. When my family and I moved to Asmara, they were the first family to welcome us and we developed a life long family relationship. They were our family in Asmara!

No one understood why him and other innocent citizens were abducted in the middle of the night by these masked groups around Eritrea during the early years of “independence”. These men were fathers, brothers, sons, uncles and husbands. Most of them were teachers, scholars, Shaicks, small businesses owners and some government employees. Their families did not know their whereabouts nor why they were taken. They knocked every door possible around the country yet nothing. Who took them, why they were taken and where they were, were some of the few questions that had no answers.

It was obvious who took them and (Bado 3) stared spreading their lies and rumours around the country to legitimize their crimes over these innocent citizens. The rationale thinking would state; if these people have committed “a crime”, then state it clearly, present their cases to the court and let the legal system take its procedure plus you needed to let their families know their whereabouts. But we were and still are dealing with a “Criminal Gang” with in the so called “government” where it abducted innocent citizens and forbids anyone to even dare ask about them otherwise they will follow them.

When I look back and try to understand why these men were taken early on; I believe it is because they were good citizens and amazing role models to the upcoming generations. They were well educated, free thinkers, had great hearts, they were active players in their communities and wanted to build a healthy educated society. They taught Education and Ethics hand in hand in the schools, mosques and in the religious institutes. When you have educators, scholars and financially independent role models in the society, who would the youngsters look up to and who would they want to be like when they grow up?

“Kids don’t hear us, they imitate us”

You will create a whole generation “post independence” who are full of knowledge, know their rights and obligations and ready to build and take on life. This idea right here would have disrupted the plan of the “Nationalist” who became a tyrant right away and was planning his dictatorship early on).

Taking away the role models of the society is cutting off the lifeline of the coming generations. The message was - no to education, no to knowledge and no to your existence.

“He” the tyrant- succeeded by destroying the backbones of these communities around the country so they are left broken, shuttered, unsafe and feeling a lack of belonging.

Almost 30 years later we are worse than we were. Eritrea has turned into an underground prison for innocent people whose only crimes were being good citizens and having a positive effect in their communities and society. When you are silent at the beginning you are silenced forever. The imprisonments of all the teachers, scholars, civilians, prisoners of conscience, prisoners of religion... you name it really breaks my heart and I always pray and hope that they are still alive and that they will see the light of freedom very soon.

This year is the year! I see something happening where events will change unexpectedly and we will be able to celebrate the release of all these innocent heroes from the regime’s prisons. I see the light at the end of the tunnel with our love, unity and focus.

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